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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 18/06/2020

Housing

Bilton homes would be 'catastrophic' for environment, residents say

by Thomas Barrett

| 18 Jun, 2020

As well as concerns over the environment and transport, residents said the development would effectively remove a valued green space and join Bilton and Knox together.

A controversial 73-home development in Bilton would clog already busy roads with traffic and be ‘catastrophic’ for local wildlife, residents say.

The development at Knox Lane has had 222 objections. The formal consultation period for the houses was extended until Monday June 22 due to coronavirus.

Developer Jomast and Leeds-based architects Spawforths are behind the plans, which would see a mix of 1,2,3 and 4-bedroom homes built with 130 car parking spaces and new open public space.

As well as concerns over the environment and transport, residents said the development would effectively remove a valued green space and join Bilton and Knox together.

One resident told the Stray Ferret that the fields are currently home to several animals including deer and badgers.

"The local residents are distraught and can't believe it's happening. It would be catastrophic for the local environment."

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Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Old Bilton Councillor Paul Haslam raised concerns over the number of homes proposed.

The site is designated as a site for development in Harrogate’s Local Plan, which was adopted in March. However, the plan identifies 52 potential homes for the site Jomast's proposals include an extra 21 homes on land that is not designated in the Plan.

Cllr Haslam said:

"The Local Plan contains more than enough houses and there should be no need to build more.

"The extra area was deliberately left out of the Local Plan because it is prone to flooding."

Jomast and Spawforths issued a joint statement to the Stray Ferret:

It said:

"The Planning Application has been carefully considered and is supported by a suite of technical reports including an Ecological Impact Assessment, trees reports, and a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment. These specialist reports demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a significant impact on the local environment.

"The planning application is supported by a Transport Assessment (TA) which has been produced by the Transport Consultant’s Fore. The TA looked at the amount of traffic generated by the Proposal and concluded the traffic impacts associated with the development are limited.

"At peak times, the proposed development would result in fewer than 40 vehicles per hour in both directions on Knox Lane. Therefore the changes in traffic flows associated with the development would not represent a significant impact on the operation of the highway network."

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Bilton homes would be 'catastrophic' for environment, residents say

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